WILMINGTON, North Carolina - The UNCW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is once again partnering with the local chapter of the American Red Cross to conduct the 11^TH Annual Colonial Athletic Association Blood Challenge on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Trask Coliseum.

The blood drive runs from 11 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and donors will receive a UNCW-American Red Cross T-shirt and free pizza, and have an opportunity to win a $3,000 gift card.

The challenge was introduced in 2002 by the CAA's presidents to emphasize the critical importance of giving blood. Each conference institution designates one day during the fall term to conduct a campus-wide blood drive. With the assistance of local blood service centers, a count is kept of all individuals who donate blood on that day. Based on those numbers, the CAA determines a winner and presents a trophy to that institution.

The event is part of the annual competition conducted by the CAA between the league's 12 schools. It has raised 32,106 units of blood over the past decade, helping to save 96,318 lives.

"We're very pleased to participate again in this wonderful community service initiative by the CAA," said Jimmy Bass, UNCW's athletic director. "There are so many people who need blood and so few donors. This is just one small way we can help those who need our help so badly."

The Seahawks contributed 188 units of blood of the 5,287 total units collected last year. Delaware won the challenge for the fifth time in 2011 with 1,086 actual donors, which resulted in 1,083 productive units of blood collected.  

The Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region provides blood to 103 hospitals and needs to have 1,600 people give blood and platelets each day to meet hospital demand. Accident victims, as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses, receive lifesaving transfusions daily. 

To schedule an appointment to donate, visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code "CAA" or call Michelle Waters at 910-254-3558. 

UNCW's CAA Blood Drive Totals

9/11/02                     138 units collected

9/11/03                     190 units collected

9/16/04                     174 units collected

12/1/05                     127 units collected (rescheduled)

9/26/06                     174 units collected

9/24/07                     196 units collected

9/18/08                     201 units collected

9/24/09                     257 units collected

9/23/10                     253 units collected

9/22/11                     188 units collected